> Apple has told DMN that no such phase-out plan exists. One source has repeatedly insisted that the plan not only exists, but that it is ‘on schedule,’ or even ahead of the original schedule.

Apple denied it when they first said it, and they deny it now. [0] But some anonymous source continues to say it, as of two years ago.

I'm not seeing why DMN should be taken seriously.

[0] http://mashable.com/2016/05/12/apple-itunes-kill-downloads-m...

I think you've just described the internet as a whole :)